GLEN LITTLE believes Reading will put themselves under enormous pressure if they fail to win at Brighton and Hove Albion tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

Royals slumped to a shock 2-1 home defeat against Plymouth on Saturday and Little is desperate to avoid a nightmare opening to the Coca-Cola Championship season.

The winger told the Evening Post: "When you're at home in the first game of the season it's vital to win, especially with two away games to follow, so to lose was a big blow. We have to get something at Brighton because we don't want to be under pressure going to Preston, which is a very tough place to go. The last thing we need is to be heading up there on the back of no wins from two games.

"But it will be a good time to go to Brighton. The pitch will be in good condition - certainly better than going there in January or February."

Last season Reading went unbeaten in their opening 13 league matches at home, before eventually losing 1-0 to Derby County on January 3.

Little said: "Our home record has gone out of the window on the first day of the season. But what is important now is how we bounce back.

Confidence hasn't been knocked after one defeat. We found it hard to get behind Plymouth in the first half and, with them playing five in midfield, it makes it even harder going a goal down.

"But we played better in the second half. Ordinarily in eight out of 10 occasions we would have won."

Little added: "I was disappointed to come off. I felt I was getting into the game. If we had been 2-1 up then I would have thought ‘fair enough', but it was 1-1 at the time and I was creating chances. Losing makes it harder to take."

Manager Steve Coppell is unlikely to make many changes with no other central defenders available and Brynjar Gunnarsson still sidelined by a knee injury.

Dave Kitson, though, is fit enough to start.

Brighton have one injury to Argentinian striker Federico Turienzo (calf).

The Seagulls boast "The Coca-Cola Kid", Colin Kazim-Richards, who was paid for by the league sponsors through a competition.